cross-sectional study on body composition and energy expenditure in women athletes during aging

The relationships between total and regional body composition, intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT), resting metabolic rate (RMR), and substrate oxidation were examined in 43 highly trained women athletes and 14 sedentary women aged 18-69 yr. Athletes were divided into four groups (18-29, 30-39, 40-49, and 50-69 yr) and controls into two groups (18-29 and 40-50 yr). Maximal oxygen consumption declined with age (r = -0.52, P < 0.0005) in the athletes and was higher in all groups of athletes than in controls (P < 0.0001). No differences in percent fat and fat-free mass (FFM) were found between the youngest and oldest athletes. Although body mass index was